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NCT06482606

Glutamate Activity in Depression (GLADE)

Sponsor: University of Oxford

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Summary

A brain chemical (neurotransmitter) called glutamate is thought to play an important role in the causation and treatment of depression. It is possible to measure glutamate in the brain in people, using safe magnetic resonance imaging but results of studies of glutamate levels in people with depression and those at risk of depression have been inconclusive. We have devised a method whereby viewing a flashing light for a few minutes provides a measure of stimulated glutamate release. We believe that this kind of functional measure is more relevant physiologically because studies in animals show that glutamate release evoked by sensory stimulation represents release of glutamate as a neurotransmitter rather than glutamate in intermediate metabolism. Therefore, the use of functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS) may provide a more useful measure of neural glutamate activity in people with depression and those at risk of depression. The aim of this study is to look at the effect of a flashing light on glutamate release in people who have recovered from depression and compare it to people who have not experienced depression. We hope from this to discover whether changes in glutamate activity might be a risk factor for the development of depression. This could be helpful both for diagnostic purposes and for the development of medications that can relieve depression by modifying glutamate release.

Official title: Glutamate Response to Photostimulation in People Recovered From Depression

Key Details

Gender

All

Age Range

18 Years - 70 Years

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Enrollment

Start Date

2024-06

Completion Date

2025-06

Last Updated

2024-07-01

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Conditions

Depression

Interventions

OTHER

Flickering Checkerboard Stimulation

This visual stimulation is a succession of alternating black and white squares on a small monitor in the scanner, the black and white checkerboard creates the effect of flickering lights.

Inclusion Criteria: For recovered depression: * Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the research; * Male or female, age 18-70; * Have at least two previous episodes of depression, and have been recovered from the most recent episode of depression for 3 months; * Free of antidepressant medication for at least 3 months; * Current PHQ-9 score \< 10 (the cut off for DSM major depression) For healthy control group: * Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the research; * Male or female, age 18-70 Exclusion Criteria: For recovered depression: * Any current significant DSM-5 psychiatric disorder; * Any previous episode of a severe mental illness, other than Depressive Disorder, for example current mood or anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder. Comorbid Anxiety disorders will be allowed; * Any significant current medical condition likely to interfere with conduct of the study or analysis of data in the opinion of the clinical investigator; * Current use of psychoactive and / or medically significant medication as judged by a study medic, whether prescribed or bought over the counter (the contraceptive pill, the Depo-Provera injection or the progesterone implant will not result in exclusion); * Ongoing psychopharmacological treatment for depression, including hypnotics; * High consumption of illicit substances and also legal substances (like alcohol, caffeine, nicotine) to an extent that would make complying with study protocol challenging; * Past history of dependence to illicit substances, and any consumption of illicit substances in the three months prior to the study; * Current or past sufferer of epilepsy or photosensitive migraines; * Currently pregnant or breast feeding; * Any contra-indications to MRI scanning For healthy control group: * History of, or current significant psychiatric disorder, for example current mood or anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder; * History of, or current neurological disorder (e.g. epilepsy); * History of, or current, severe migraines; * History of, or current general medical conditions that in the opinion of the Investigator may interfere with the safety of the participant or the scientific integrity of the study; * Currently on any regular prescribed medication that in the opinion of the Principal Investigator may interfere with the safety of the participant or the scientific integrity of the study; * Current high consumption of illicit substances and also legal substances (like alcohol, caffeine, nicotine) to an extent that would make complying with study protocol challenging; * History of dependence to illicit substances, and any consumption of illicit substances in the three months prior to the study; * Currently pregnant or breastfeeding; * Have had metallic implants or other devices in your body that make it unsafe for you to go into the scanner

Locations (1)

University of Oxford

Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom